Brother James B. Steinbach, CM
1939–2007

Brother James B. Steinbach, CM, died suddenly in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 26, 2007. Born in Appleton City, Missouri, on October 9, 1939, he was the son of George Herman and Lucy (nee Groner) Steinbach. Brother Jim entered the Congregation of the Mission on March 8, 1958 and took permanent vows on March 8, 1963.

Beginning in 1960, Brother Jim served on the farm at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri, and in maintenance departments of the Vincentian seminaries in Beaumont, Texas, and Santa Barbara, California. He was a founding member of the Vincentian missionary team that went to San Benito, El Petén, Guatemala in 1980. He returned to the United States in 1989 and became a parish minister, serving in Loyosa, Texas and New Orleans.

Brother Jim is remembered fondly as a man of great hospitality. One confrere commented, “He was great at making you feel at home whenever you visited New Orleans. Whatever he could do to make your visit more pleasant and interesting, he would do. Brother Jim was one of the most helpful men I have ever met, and always with great energy and a broad smile.”

His funeral Mass was celebrated on December 29, at St. Joseph’s Church in New Orleans. There was also a memorial Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church, St. Louis, on February 9.

Brother Jim is survived by three sisters, Lorraine Schneider, Fran (Don) Mesplay, and Martha (Bob) Schneider; and two brothers, Roger Steinbach and Thomas Steinbach; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.